Complimentary tickets for one of last weekend’s sell-out Runrig shows were offered to senior Stirling Council staff and some councillors.

A total of 45,000 fans attended The Last Dance concerts held at the council’s City Park venue, formerly Falleninch Field.

The council has confirmed seven staff involved in “key operational roles” at the concerts were offered freebies.

Complimentary tickets were also offered to the council leader Scott Farmer and deputy leader Danny Gibson, community planning and regeneration convener Chris Kane, finance and economy convener Margaret Brisley and the vice-conveners of both those committees.

Councillors Kane, Brisley and Gibson did not take up the offer.

Councillors Farmer and Alison Laurie, vice convener of the finance and economy committee, have both declared on the council’s website that they each had two free tickets for the concert .

Council insiders say in the run up to the shows there was grumbling among staff about the distribution of free tickets offered to managers and councillors.

Runrig had been due to play just one farewell concert at Stirling but added a second after 25,000 tickets for the first show were snapped up in seven minutes.

And despite the second show, tickets – which cost £49 just for standing room – remained a hot property.

Alitta Paterson, from Cambusbarron, told the Observer she paid £1959.95 for six tickets from secondary ticket re-sellers Viagogo.

One council staff member said: “They were two great shows and they provided a big boost for Stirling but there were certainly council staff who were unhappy that those who had been at the sharp end of helping to lay on the concerts and had done all the spade work didn’t get a sniff of the free tickets.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson said they were unaware of any row in relation to council staff attending Runrig.

He added: “A total of seven council officers had complimentary tickets and these were declared in the usual way. Staff were all involved in the event in key operational roles.

“Councillor invitations were offered according to committee responsibility, as well as to the council leader, deputy leader and the provost.

“This followed standard procedure and the tickets were nontransferable to any third parties.”

Councillor Kane said he had an alternative engagement and was unable to attend but added: “I have no objection in principle to councillors with relevant responsibilities, such as culture or tourism, attending anything that will make them better informed and better prepared to assist in bringing more events and more of a boost to Stirling’s local economy.”

Councillor Gibson added: “It was a matter for each councillor whether they accepted the tickets offered to attend the event, which would have been subject to the code of conduct requirements on registration of gifts.

“It would have been entirely appropriate for any of the relevant position holders to have attended what was a very successful event for Stirling.

“Unfortunately no Labour councillor was able to attend.“

Leader of the council’s Scottish Conservative group Neil Benny, said: “This is very concerning. We find it hard to understand what justification there could be for the leader of the council to be offered free tickets. Our view is very clear, a ballot for any tickets available should have been held. Had we been consulted that is what we would have said. We would urge the council leader to put such a procedure in place now to ensure a transparent system exists for any future major events in the City Park. It is a real shame that such a fantastic event is being overshadowed in this way.”

An SNP spokesman hit back: “Event admission was made available to administration councillors with relevant portfolios. SNP councillors were proud to represent Stirling Council at such a prestigious event, which has benefited the Stirling economy to the tune of an estimated £7.25 million.

“Administration councillors representing the council at major events is nothing new, and last weekend also saw council leader Scott Farmer attending the Special Olympics Anniversary Games in Stirling, as well as the Stirling Highland Games.

“Runrig performing their Last Dance in Stirling was a great event for our area and it is disappointing that the Tories would yet again use such an event to conjure political grievance.”